Chelsea still in charge

Cech helpless
Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger kept faith with under-pressure goalkeeper Manuel Almunia, who pulled off fine first-half saves to deny Frank Lampard and Eidur Gudjohnsen. Although by that time Thierry Henry had already given the home side a second-minute lead, bringing down a ball from the left and lifting it past a helpless Petr Cech from 12 metres out.

Quick free-kick
Arjen Robben had a goal disallowed but the Dutchman soon set up the 17th-minute equaliser from a corner which John Terry rose to head in and level the scores. However, Arsenal were back in front ten minutes later after Robert Pires was fouled five metres outside the Chelsea area. While Cech was lining up his defensive wall, Henry took a quick free-kick and curled the ball gently into the far corner to score his 150th Premiership goal and put Arsenal 2-1 up.

Rapid equaliser
Henry had taken just over a minute to break the deadlock but Gudjohnsen needed only 35 seconds of the second half to restore parity. Robben was fouled on the Chelsea left and when the free-kick was delivered, Terry's run unsettled the Arsenal defence and left William Gallas free to nod down for the Icelandic striker, who glanced the ball inside the post.

Henry chance
In an otherwise cagey second half, a slick move led to Henry missing a glorious chance to wrap up his hat-trick and all three points but the Arsenal talisman skewered his ten-metre effort high and wide with the goal at his mercy, meaning his side remain in third place, five points behind leaders Chelsea.

Midlands derby
In the day's other game, struggling Birmingham City FC did their survival chances no harm with a gritty 2-1 away victory against city rivals Aston Villa FC to move up two places. Thomas Sørensen failed to keep out Clinton Morrison's ninth-minute effort and the visitors were 2-0 up nine minutes later when David Dunn found the net to silence the Villa supporters.

Barry consolation
Gareth Barry, who earlier had two second-half strikes ruled out - one for offside, the other a clear handball - gave the home side hope with a neat finish in added time. But further goals proved elusive meaning Villa are still without victory against Birmingham in five attempts since their less illustrious neighbours gained promotion to the Premiership at the end of the 2001/02 season.

Monday match
Fulham FC and fourth-placed Manchester United FC complete the weekend's fixtures when they meet at Craven Cottage on Monday night. Victory would take Fulham back above Birmingham into 14th place.